Obituary: Charles Lee Williamson

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Charles Lee Williamson, 87, died Oct. 21 in Dallas. Born while his father was preaching a Sunday morning sermon, he was named for his grandfathers, Charles Williamson and John Lee. He was ordained in 1948 and served Old Independence Baptist Church, Black Jack Baptist Church and Peoria Baptist Church while he was attending college and seminary. Charles Lee Williamson

He later was pastor of Highlands Baptist Church in LaMarque and Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Beaumont. In 1961, he became director of missions for Southeast Texas Baptist Association and later served Waco Baptist Association. In 1968, he began serving as missions division director for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, where he remained until his retirement in 1992. In addition to the strategic planning conferences he directed in almost all 112 Baptist associations in Texas, he also reworked Texas Baptists’ church-starting strategy.

After retirement, he formed Creative Church Consultations. In 1993, he trained as an intentional interim pastor and then qualified as an instructor. He served 12 years as a trustee at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was vice chairman of the board and chair of the executive committee. He served 18 years as trustee of Baptist University of the Américas, twice as chairman and once as interim president. He also served several years as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, which awarded him an honorary doctorate of Christian education in 2013.

His family was named the Baylor Alumni Association’s family of the year in 1991, and he was named an outstanding alumnus by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patsy; sons, Mark and John; daughter, Jane Cully; brother, Billy; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.


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